If you have questions about your residency and/or Collective Agreement, would like advice or just to chat, please use our Contact Form.
If you would like to report a violation or issue please use the form below.
RDBC supports residents individually where there are respectful workplace, remediation, competency committee or scheduling concerns. Reach out with your concerns.
RDBC can support residents through the formal individual grievance process, which requires identifying the resident to the employer to seek an individual remedy. For example, if a resident were to have their compassionate leave denied we would work with the employer to seek compensation.
If residents prefer to remain anonymous, RDBC can address issues at a policy level. This process, while slower can be used to resolve issues that affect entire programs or multiple programs within Residency, such as denying post call days, overscheduling or denying vacation without having an individual complainant identified.
The most common issues RDBC supports residents address include:
Overscheduling
No post call day
No schedule in advance
Lieu Days
Vacation Denials
Facilities issues
Respectful workplace
Distributed rotations
OHS
Academic issues
A grievance is when there is a disagreement between the resident(s) and the Employer, or Resident Doctors of BC and the Employer, concerning the interpretation, application or operation of the Collective Agreement; or if there is a violation of the Collective Agreement.
The resident will continue to preform his/her duties until the grievance is settled.
Resident Doctors of BC will look into the complaint prior to contacting the Health Authority for the hospital/facility in which the violation has occurred to ensure that a speedy resolution can be pursued.
All correspondence will be copied and sent to HEABC.
After notifying Resident Doctors of BC the resolution mechanism is as follows:
Within 14 calendar days of the occurrence, or 14 calendar days of the resident becoming aware of the matter, Resident Doctors of BC will write the Employer regarding the grievance. A meeting with the Employer and Resident Doctors of BC will then happen within 21 calendar days following the written notice. A written reply will be provided to Resident Doctors of BC.
If a settlement is NOT reached then:
Within 21 calendar days of the written reply from Stage 1, Resident Doctors of BC will again submit the written grievance to the employer. The matter will be discussed between Resident Doctors of BC and the Employer.
If after Stage 2 a settlement is still not reached the process moves to arbitration.
Within 30 calendar days of the receipt of reply from Stage 2, if either Resident Doctors of BC or the Employer may express their desire for arbitration in writing.
The other party has 15 calendar days to agree to arbitration.
The arbitrator (selected from the list enumerated in Article 4) has full power to resolve the difference and their decision is final and binding.